Protective overskirt



C. G. JENNINGS PROTECTIVE OVERSKIRT July 9, 1957 .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1954 an f a ,11

y 1957 c. G. JENNINGS PROTECTIVE OVERSKIRT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1954 July 9, 1957 Filed May 10, 1954 C. G. JENNINGS PROTECTIVE OVERSKIRT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 1957 c. G. JENNINGS 2,798,224

PROTECTIVE OVERSKIRT Filed May 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 2,798,224 FROTECTIVE o'v'nas'kmr illiarlotte G. Jennings, West Ne'v'vbnry, Mass. Application May 10,1954, Serial No. 428,506

1 Claim. (Cl. 247) The subject of this invention is an overskirt adapted to protect the skirt of a dress from rain and dirt. The overskirt here described is especially useful for wear over evening gowns which have long full skirts, especially gowns made of light colored, delicate materials which soil readily. In one modification, the overskirt is adapted to cover a garment with a train, such as a wedding gown.

The object of this invention is to provide a protective overskirt, preferably waterproof, which completely encases a long full skirt without creasing or crushing it, which can be readily put on and removed, and which is designed for easy manufacture.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an overskirt constructed according to thte invention, shown unfolded;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section takena long line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section showing the under part of the skirt in place under a wearers dress;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section showing the overskirt as it is worn;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modification of the overskirt;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section showing the modification of Fig. 6 with the underskirt in place under a dress;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section showing the modification of Fig. 6, as worn;

Fig. 9 is a side view of another modification of the skirt;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section showing the modification of Fig. 9, as worn;

Fig. 11 is a front view of still another modification of the skirt;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-section showing the under part of the modification of Fig. 11 in place; and

Fig. 13 is a front view, partly in cross-section, showing the modification of Fig. 11, as worn.

The overskirt shown in Figs. 1 to 5 consists essentially of two tubular sections of cloth or plastic material joined together, a relatively short tubular section 20, and a longer tubular section 21. The short section 20 is rather narrow, as shown in Fig. 2, and is preferably made of a knit material, such as jersey, so as to fit snugly over the wearers hips. The longer section 21 is of much fuller dimensions, as shown in Fig. 3, and is made of a waterproof fabric or plastic. A heat-scalable transparent or translucent plastic is excellent for the purpose. The longer section 21 is gathered at one end and attached to section 20 along seam 22. The upper end of section 20 is attached to'a waist band 23, and may be provided with one or more side plackets 24. The opposite end of section 21 is gathered into a waist band 25, and a closure, such as a slide fastener 26, runs from the waist band part way into the body of section 21.

To put on the overskirt, section 20 is placed under the skirt 27 of the dress to be protected and band 23 fastened around the wearers waist under the dress. Section 21 is then doubled back over the outside of skirt 27 and band 25 fastened around the wearers waist outside the dress, as shown-in Fig. 5. The inner waist band is preferably fastened by snaps which can be unfastened through the dress, so that the whole over-skirt can be removed without lifting the skirt of the dress.

It will be noted that, when the overskirt is in place, the waterproof material forms a loose bag which covers the entire outside of the dress skirt, and also the hem and lower part of the inside, preferably about to the height of the wearers knees. The latter feature is important to prevent soiling of the dress when it drags or lies on the floor, as when the wearer drives or sits in an automobile, for example. The upper section 20 fits closely over the hips so as not to produce unnecessary bulk, while the waterproof section is full so as not to wrinkle the dress or crush ruffles, flowers, or other ornaments which may be on the dress skirt.

If section is made of a heat scalable plastic, the overskirt can be easily shortened by pressing with a hot iron along the bottom fold 28 to join the inner and outer layers together at the required length, and subsequently cutting off the excess material.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, a rufile 29 is attached to the inside of section 21 (as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7) along a seam 30. When section 21 is folded back over the outside of the dress skirt 27, as in Fig. 8, the rufile projects outward. This rufile protects the wearers shoes from falling rain or snow.

In the modification of Figs. 9 and 10, the waterproof section 21 (which is here shown disposed upward) has an opening 31 in the rear extending from the waist band 25 to the line 35 which represents the fold line or hem line of the garment when worn. The opening may be formed by cutting aslit in section 21 from the waist band down to line 35, or may be cut somewhat rounded. An elongated sack 32, preferably of the same material as section 21 has a mouth with a margin 32a which, is attached to section 21 around the opening 31 by stitching; or heat sealing. A zipper 33 forms a closure extending from waist band 25, part way down the sack. As shown in Fig. 10, the sack will accommodate and protect a train 34, which may be either a separate panel on the gown or an extension of the dress skirt 27. Obviously the protector here illustrated will accommodate either type of garment, but the train 34 is here illustrated as a separate panel overlying the skirt 27 at the back. The waist band 23 is worn inside the dress and the band 25 outside, as before.

Figs. 11 to 13 show a modification of the overskirt especially adapted to be worn with a raincoat. One set of teeth 40a of a separable slide fastener 40 is attached to the hem of the raincoat 41. A tubular section 42, of waterproofmaterial, somewhat shorter than the section 21 of the modifications previously described, is attached at seam 22 to section 20. The other set of teeth 40b of slide fastener 40 is attached around the lower end of section 42. Waistband 23 is worn inside the dress, as before, and the lower end of section 42 is folded up over the outside of the dress skirt 27 and attached to the coat by a slide fastener 40, thus covering all the lower part of the skirt which is not covered by the coat. In all the modifications here shown, the overskirt or at least the larger, waterproof section, is preferably made of a fireresistant material which cannot be accidentally ignited by a cigarette.

What is claimed is:

A protective garment for encasing the skirt of a dress comprising: a first relatively narrow tubular skirt portion adapted to be worn under a dress and being appreciably shorter than the skirt of the dress; means for fastening said first portion at the wearers waist, said portion extending downward over the wearers hips; a second, relatively wide tubular portion of waterproof material at- Patented July 9, 1957 tached and gathered to said first portion, having a free end adapted to be folded up over the outside of the dress, said second portion being extended from the lower edge of the first portion-downward to the hem of the vdress skirt, up over the outside of the dress skirt, to the-wearers waist; and at waist band:attached to'said free end for fastening the same around the wearers waist, said'second portion having an opening extending, when the :garment is worn, from said waist band down approximately to the hem line; a sack having a. mouthaligned' with said opening with a margin attached to said second portion, said sack being adapted to receive and enclose the train of a dress; thnsforminga tubular-doublewalled bag completely encasing the skirt of Hand in the region of the skirt hem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cory Apr. 21, Rosenthal Aug. 18, Stears May 2, Mabee Feb. 5, Suddick July 25, Callahan et a1. June 8, Lowry Feb. 6,

the dress inside and out and 

